The Magazine for the Royal College of Music I Autumn 2015
Hitting the Right Note Inside the Royal College of Music’s new percussion suite...
What’s inside... Welcome to upbeat... The Royal College of Music welcomed new and returning staff and students this term after a summer break which saw a number of exciting developments.
Contents
The Durrington Room on the fourth floor of the South Building has been renovated into a new purpose-built percussion suite – see page ten to find out more from Head of Percussion David Hockings. The state-of-the-art Amadeus practice pods that were in the courtyard have been moved to the third floor Ziff Suite and the remaining practice rooms have been refurbished.
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Meanwhile, improvements to the Blomfield Building include the creation of a new performance space on the ground floor. The Corelli Room encompasses the old G15 and G16 rooms and will hold chamber concerts, lectures and classes. This issue, we also look at how young musicians at the RCM are supported through scholarships. Turn to page 12 for an interview with pianist Martin James Bartlett and his supporter Terry Hitchcock to find out more about this valuable programme. The Royal College of Music is delighted to announce that the RCM Symphony Orchestra will return to the Royal Festival Hall in 2016. Conducted by Diego Masson, the all-Stravinsky programme on Sunday 26 June forms part of the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Myths and Rituals series. Save the date as tickets will be on sale soon. Do you have any news you want to share with staff, students and supporters of the RCM? We’re always keen to hear from students and staff, both past and present, so please send your news and pictures to news@rcm.ac.uk by Monday 11 January.
In the news The latest news from the RCM, including the recent visit of the First Lady of China, a tribute to former RCM Director Sir David Willcocks and the launch of the Royal College of Music’s Creative Careers Centre...
10 Percussive Progress Head of Percussion David Hockings describes the exciting development of a brand new percussion suite in the South Building
12 Supporting Young Musicians Upbeat meets with pianist Martin James Bartlett and his scholarship supporter Terry Hitchcock to find out more about how young musicians are supported at the Royal College of Music
14 Meeting the Director Meet Lily Harriss, the RCM’s new Director of Development
16 Student notes… Current student success stories
18 Staff notes… News from professorial, academic and administrative staff
20 Alumni notes… Updates from RCM graduates
22 Obituaries and marriages On Sunday 20 September, 170 alumni from 1956-65 attended a reunion in the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall. You can see more photos online at www.rcm.ac.uk/alumni
Front cover – The Royal College of Music’s new percussion suite Inside front cover – Images from the Royal College of Music International Opera School’s summer production of Britten’s Albert Herring Inside back cover – A selection of images of Royal College of Music students and alumni performing at the 2015 BBC Proms All photography © Chris Christodoulou NB: Please note that we cannot guarantee to include everything we receive and that we reserve the right to edit submissions
Upbeat online Upbeat is available online at www.rcm.ac.uk/upbeat Please help us to reduce our carbon footprint and receive Upbeat by email. Contact us at news@rcm.ac.uk and we’ll send you an email notification when Upbeat is published.
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In the news... Music in Hospitals Photo © CW+ www.cwplus.org.uk
Sir David Willcocks (1919–2015)
Royal College of Music pianists have taken part in a successful project to bring music to older patients on hospital wards in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
Former Royal College of Music Director, much-loved choral conductor, composer and organist Sir David Willcocks died on 17 September. Sir David made an enormous contribution to British cultural life and current RCM Director Professor Colin Lawson said: ‘Sir David Willcocks presided over a golden period in the RCM’s history. The College benefited enormously from the leadership of a musician of such talent and flair. His influence is still keenly felt within the RCM and we are deeply saddened at the news of his passing.’ Sir David studied at Westminster Abbey, Clifton College, Bristol, and was organ scholar at King’s College, Cambridge. He interrupted his studies at Cambridge during World War II to serve in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry for six years and won the Military Cross for outstanding service. After completing his studies at Cambridge, he became organist of Salisbury Cathedral, later moving to Worcester Cathedral from 1950 to 1957, during which time he was also Principal Conductor of the Three Choirs Festival. He succeeded his mentor, Boris Ord, as Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge, and, in 1960, he also
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became the musical director of The Bach Choir in London, a post he held for 38 years. He was the editor of Carols for Choirs, the collections which to this day make his name synonymous with British choral music at Christmas. David Willcocks succeeded Sir Keith Falkner as Director of the Royal College of Music in April 1974, holding the post for ten years. During this time he saw the College through difficult financial times and led the Centenary Appeal to develop the courtyard, starting the programme to build the new opera theatre – even if this development did take away the space where he would play cricket with students and colleagues on warm summer days. He was appointed CBE in 1971, created a Knight Bachelor in 1977 and awarded a Fellowship of the RCM in 1971. In addition, he held over 50 honorary degrees. A memorial concert for Sir David Willcocks will be held at 3.00pm on Sunday 22 November at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge. The St Cecilia’s Day concert will be given by the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, conducted by Stephen Cleobury. See www. davidwillcocksmemorial.com for more information.
Results from the Royal College of Music’s ‘Memory Lane’ project at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, devised in collaboration with CW+ (the hospital charity) and Concordia Foundation, have shown that 100% of patients have been relaxed by the sessions. The published findings also revealed that 95% of patients and 100% of staff found the musical activities to be a positive distraction from and improvement to the hospital environment. The scheme is a response to significant research that shows how music can improve visual awareness, attention, mood and verbal memory in patients. RCM alumna and pianist Maria Marchant has been involved for the last three years and visits Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on a weekly basis to play a range of musical favourites. Its success has led to the development of a year-long training programme which sees six pianists from the RCM and Concordia Foundation undertake a range of workshops and regular performances on the wards. RCM pianists Kheng Hoe, Sohyun Park and Theresa Yu and Concordia Foundation pianist and former RCM Junior Fellow Jocelyn Freeman have taken part in the scheme since September 2014. ‘Memory Lane’ is generously supported by Dasha Shenkman OBE.
First Lady of China Visits Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music opened its doors to the First Lady of the People’s Republic of China, Madame Peng Liyuan on Thursday 22 October. A renowned singer of Chinese folk music, the First Lady enjoyed a tour of the College and performances from RCM musicians including Gemma Lois Summerfield (Kathleen Ferrier Award 2015) and pianist Martin James Bartlett (BBC Young Musician 2014). They were joined by notable alumni including award-winning accompanist Ian Tindale and Chinese soprano He Wu, who is now at the National Opera Studio.
Before departing, the First Lady was presented with a facsimile of the original manuscript of Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C minor K 491 in the RCM’s collections, and a copy of Director’s Choice. In return, the First Lady presented the Royal College of Music with a Sheng – a traditional Chinese wind instrument. The RCM has developed partnerships with conservatoires across China and a strong connection with world-famous pianist, Lang Lang, who received an Honorary Doctorate in 2011. In addition, Professor Vanessa Latarche, Head of Keyboard at the RCM, is Vice Chairman of Lang Lang Music World – his school for gifted pianists in Shenzhen. You can see more photos from the visit online at www.rcm.ac.uk/ firstladyofchina
RCM Involved in Ambitious Seven Seeds Project The Royal College of Music, as part of the Tri-borough Music Hub, has been involved in an event featuring 1,200 young musicians at the Royal Albert Hall. The Seven Seeds concert on 23 June featured a new piece written by 350 children with writer Hazel Gould and award-winning composer and RCM alumnus John Barber. Along with the Royal Albert Hall and Aurora Orchestra, the RCM is a Strategic Partner of the Tri-borough Music Hub, which oversees the delivery of music education in the three West London boroughs: Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham and the City of Westminster. The RCM’s contribution is provided by its groundbreaking Learning and Participation programme RCM Sparks. Seven Seeds was commissioned by the Tri-borough Music Hub and is generously supported by the John Lyons Charity, The Mercers’ Company and The Golsoncott Foundation.
Royal College of Music alumnus Sir Thomas Allen has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by RCM Chairman, Professor Lord Winston. The presentation took place at the first of two ceremonies in the Britten Theatre on the RCM’s annual graduation day on 10 July 2015. Hear his acceptance speech online at www.youtube.com/RCMLondon.
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In the news... Singing is Good for You Researchers from the Royal College of Music have shown that listening to and performing music has a positive biological effect on mood and stress levels. A study carried out by the RCM’s Centre for Performance Science at public events at Cheltenham Music Festival in July and London’s Union Chapel in March saw researchers work with choral conductor and composer Eric Whitacre and a group of singers and audience members to explore the benefits and stresses of choir singing. Performers and audience members submitted saliva samples, wore ECG monitors and completed a questionnaire, allowing CPS researchers to measure their heart rate and stressrelated hormones.
The results indicate that listening to a concert leads to a decrease in stress hormones and negative mood states, while simultaneously increasing positive mood states. Meanwhile, performers experienced reduced levels of stress hormones in a low-stress rehearsal environment, with results also showing that the overall act of singing, whether in rehearsal or performance, had an inherently relaxing effect. Following the study at Union Chapel Aaron Williamon, Professor of Performance Science, said: ‘This is the first time participation in a cultural event has been shown to have significant psychobiological effects ... The implications are hugely exciting, particularly when taking into account previous research by the CPS which links reduction in stress hormone activity with increases in immune function.’
RCM Creative Careers Centre The Royal College of Music is delighted to announce the launch of its pioneering Creative Careers Centre, formerly known as the Woodhouse Professional Development Centre. Since its foundation in 1999 the Woodhouse Professional Development Centre has gone from strength to strength, always maintaining its original mission of supporting musicians in bridging the gap between student and professional life. The department’s careers services, offered to both students and graduates of up to five years, are globally recognised. Diana Roberts, Creative Careers Centre Manager, comments ‘Moving forward, we have exciting plans to build even more new and innovative career development partnerships, expand the centre’s online provision for career support and offer further entrepreneurial support for musicians wishing to start up their own businesses.’ The Royal College of Music remains grateful to Paul Woodhouse, whose legacy has enabled a specialist department to support thousands of musicians forge a pathway in their chosen vocations. 6
Left to right: Diana Roberts, Creative Careers Centre Manager; Emily Longmore, Creative Careers Centre Assistant; Georgina Colebrook, Professional Engagements Coordinator
Compositional Successes Professional Success for RCM Graduates Data published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) shows that students from the Royal College of Music are more likely to find employment than those of any other UK conservatoire. Lisa Illean
Dani Howard
Current composers and recent graduates from the RCM’s Composition Faculty have been enjoying international success in recent months. Alumni Hunter Coblentz, Dani Howard and Michael Taplin have won the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize for Young Composers, each winning a professional commission over the coming year. The International Antonín Dvořák Composition Competition saw further success for Hunter and Dani. Hunter was awarded the Second Prize in the Senior Category and special prizes for best free composition and best orchestral work, while Dani came third in the Junior Category and also won the prize for best free composition among Junior participants.
Excellent Results in National Student Survey The Royal College of Music has achieved outstanding results in the 2015 National Student Survey, published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The results of the survey show that the RCM has achieved the joint-highest percentage of students satisfied with the ‘overall quality of the course’ across all UK conservatoires, and the highest of London conservatoires. The excellence of RCM professors and teaching staff was highlighted
Christopher Schlechte-Bond
Hunter has also, along with alumna Lisa Illean, been selected for the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young Composers Programme. The programme offers the opportunity to workshop a new piece and be mentored by the LPO’s Composer in Residence, Magnus Lindberg. Further success has been achieved by RCM composer Nick Morrish Rarity who has been selected for Sound and Music’s highly competitive Portfolio composer-inresidence opportunity, in partnership with Mu:Arts and Royal Holloway University. Finally, we congratulate RCM composers Christopher SchlechteBond and Tom Barnes who have been awarded scholarships from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. in particular, with 92% of students reporting they were satisfied with the ‘teaching of the course’, the highest figure across all UK conservatoires.
The data, published on 2 July, shows that, out of RCM alumni who graduated in 2014, 100% of those who responded to the survey reported that they had moved into employment or further study six months after graduating. This great result places the RCM at the very top of HESA’s league table, which included not just UK conservatoires, but all UK universities. RCM Director Professor Colin Lawson commented: ‘This fantastic result reinforces the RCM’s position as a world leader when it comes to preparing students for the workplace.’
Director’s Choice The Royal College of Music has released a new publication showcasing some of the exceptional items in the RCM collections. Director’s Choice is an 80-page guide to the rich collections of historic instruments, manuscripts and portraits held in the RCM Museum of Music and Library. Items are revealed through engaging descriptions and images with highlights including the Anne Boleyn Songbook and c1480 clavicytherium as well as many of the outstanding portraits in the collections. The guide can be purchased online at www.rcm.ac.uk/shop.
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In the news... Queen’s Birthday Honours
Honour at any time and the current list includes soprano Dame Janet Baker and composers Sir Harrison Birtwistle and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
A number of individuals associated with the Royal College of Music have had their achievements recognised in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
RCM Research Fellow in Composition Mark-Anthony Turnage – composer of operas Greek and Anna Nicole – was awarded a CBE for Services to Music. So too was RCM alumnus Simon Halsey, who was also recently awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music.
Conductor and alumnus Sir Neville Marriner was given the exceptional recognition of being made a Companion of Honour for Services to Music. There are only 65 Companions of
Honours were also given to clarinettist Michael Collins, who studied at the
RCM Junior Department, and Managing Director of the Philharmonia Orchestra David Whelton, who was awarded an HonRCM in 2013. The RCM’s ongoing relationship with the Philharmonia has seen high profile collaborations at the Royal Festival Hall, including a performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring as part of the Orchestra’s festival Paris: City of Light. We send our warmest congratulations to all those honoured.
THE BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE
Challenge Opens: Friday 4 December 2015 at 12pm
We’re aiming to raise £180,000 to support the studies of talented young musicians. Make a donation to the RCM Scholarships Fund as part of The Big Give Christmas Challenge and your contribution could be doubled! Donations of £5 to £5,000 could be matched by The Big Give, but with limited matching funds released from 12.00pm, you have to be quick! There is no better time to support our gifted young musicians. Please visit www.thebiggive.org.uk and search for ‘Royal College of Music’ to donate. Contact the Scholarships team for more information on 020 7591 4861 or rcmscholarships@rcm.ac.uk
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Welcoming New Arrivals We are delighted to warmly welcome a total of 342 new students from 62 different countries for a new academic year at the Royal College of Music. This year we have once again awarded more than £2 million in scholarships to RCM students, meaning that 50% of our students are now able to benefit from some form of financial help towards their tuition. We are extremely grateful to all of our generous scholarship donors for making this possible. Eugene Marshall has been re-elected as President of the recently renamed Students’ Union. Eugene and his team will represent and support the student body and provide a full programme of social events and activities throughout the year.
(Ian Evans Lombe Junior Fellowship) and Nathaniel Mander (Linda Hill Junior Fellowship in Harpsichord/Continuo). You can find out more about Junior Fellowships at www.rcm.ac.uk/ juniorfellows. If you’re interested in applying for a Junior Fellowship for 2016/17, applications are now open until 29 January 2016. Photo © Thomas Bartel
Students
Olivier Stankiewicz
Professors and Staff
Eugene Marshall
New Junior Fellows The RCM welcomes new Junior Fellows for the 2015/16 academic year: Magdalena Loth-Hill (Mills Williams Junior Fellowship), Hin-Yat Tsang (Constant & Kit Lambert Junior Fellowship), Aleksandar Djermanovic (Anthony Saltmarsh Junior Fellowship), Imma Setiadi (Gilbert and Eileen Edgar Junior Fellowship), Eleanor Kornas (Adami Award for Piano Accompanists Junior Fellowship) and Satoko DoiLuck (Junior Fellowship in Harpsichord/ Continuo). We also welcome back for a second year Chad Vindin (Lord and Lady Lurgan Junior Fellowship), Elliot Launn
The Royal College of Music is delighted to welcome Olivier Stankiewicz as professor in the Woodwind Faculty. Olivier has recently been appointed Principal Oboe of the London Symphony Orchestra. Prior to joining the LSO, he performed with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Toulouse’s Orchestre National du Capitole (ONCT), where he was Principal Oboe (2011–15). Olivier said: ‘I am incredibly happy to join the teaching staff at the RCM. I have always wanted to share what I have learnt from my own teachers and use my experience to help others express themselves.’ Three new members of staff have joined the RCM Research and Programmes department this term. Dr Christina Guillaumier has joined the Royal College of Music as Head of Undergraduate Programmes. Christina was previously Head of Creative and Contextual Studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Trained as a pianist, Christina is a musicologist, teacher and writer on music, with an MMus in Advanced
Dr Christina Guillaumier
Musical Studies from the University of London, MSc from the University of Oxford and a PhD from the University of St Andrews. She was also awarded an Athenaeum Award to complete a Visiting Research Fellowship (2011) at Princeton University. Dr Jennie Henley has been appointed as the RCM’s first Area Leader for Music Education. She will take overall responsibility for all RCM music education courses and lead the development of a new Masters degree in Music Education. Emma Hewett joins the team in the role of Research and Knowledge Exchange Manager. She will support the delivery of all research projects. The RCM Junior Department welcomes six new members of staff this year: Emma Covill (piano), string teachers Esther King Smith and Ruth Palmer, woodwind orchestral tutor Douglas Mitchell, and chamber music coaches Jianing Kong and Andrew Zolinsky.
New Director of Development The Royal College of Music is delighted to welcome Lily Harriss who joins as Director of Development. Lily has over 20 years’ experience in fundraising, both in the UK and internationally. She established the Development and Communications Team of ‘Picture our Future: The Campaign for Dulwich Picture Gallery’. Her previous roles include Director of Development at English Heritage, Director of University Fundraising at King’s College London and King’s Health Partners, Strategic Counsel for LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre) and Director of Development, Corporations and Foundations at Queen’s University in Canada. Find out more in our interview with Lily on page 14. 9
Percussive Progress The Royal College of Music continues to improve its facilities in order to provide world-leading opportunities for its staff and students. One such recent improvement has been the development of a new percussion suite on the top floor of the South Building. Head of Percussion David Hockings introduces the brand new bespoke percussion suite... The building work began on 13 July, immediately after our annual Festival of Percussion. More than 700 people attended our most successful festival to date, with highlights including Djembe lessons, a session from the percussion and timpani sections of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and legendary drummer Jo Jo Mayer, who flew in to perform a tribute concert to Buddy Rich with our very own Big Band. This fantastic event is just one of the many Percussion Faculty events that will be facilitated and improved by the new suite.
Large ensembles can record in the Main Room using The Studio as the control room via a video link. It‘s even possible to link directly to the main RCM Studios to enable full multi-track recordings. The percussion suite also benefits from two storage rooms where all the faculty’s smaller instruments and stands can be neatly stored in a variety of drawers, shelves and pigeon holes and our full range of cymbals can be seen and selected at a glance.
Building work was completed on 12 September in time for the arrival of students for the new Autumn Term. Every wall on the top floor of the South Building was knocked down and we effectively had the opportunity to design the suite from scratch. We have a total of seven rooms, all soundproofed, and all with touchscreen computers and Hi-fi. Noise-controlling whisper walls have been erected in a variety of eye-catching colours and new air-conditioning has been installed in order to create a healthier and more comfortable working environment.
‘I can’t believe how spoilt we are with the new facilities, being able to record yourself in the new fully fitted percussion studio is an opportunity not to be missed.’ Thomas Hollister
RCM percussionists are already feeling the benefits:
The suite contains five rooms dedicated to specific musical purposes: a timpani room with our second set of calf-headed ringers installed; vibraphone room; orchestral room; marimba room; and ‘The Studio’. There is a further multipercussion room for recital practice and ensembles and the Main Room, which will be used for masterclasses and larger rehearsals. The Studio is well-appointed with all the recording equipment and software necessary for professional recordings, with a drum kit, Latin instruments, vibes and keyboard all set up ready to be played. The Main Room is equipped with all of the above as well, in addition to a projector and automated screen. 10
Students can practice in the dedicated marimba room
‘To have access to this amount of technology is so beneficial. We have the ability to play along to music in every room now.’ Alun McNeil-Watson ‘The new percussion suite is just fantastic; the facilities, technology and sheer amount of space mean that we can all work to our full potential, thank you RCM!’ Kizzy Brooks The move to the suite will keep the Percussion Faculty of the Royal College of Music at the forefront of the UK conservatoires as well as the majority of those in Europe. Our professors will have the latest equipment and technology available to them, helping them to support the next generation of professional percussionists and timpanists. These facilities will also be fully utilised in conjunction with our programme of world-class masterclasses as it will enable instant high definition recording and allow an archive library to be built, a resource that future students can use as yet another valuable teaching aid.
Visit www.rcm.ac.uk/percussion/ keyfeatures to see more photos of the new percussion suite.
Head of Percussion David Hockings with students in the new percussion suite
The new rooms provide comfortable teaching spaces
Brand new storage for percussion equipment
Students in one of the refurbished practice rooms
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Supporting Young Musicians
RCM pianist Martin James Bartlett and his supporter Terry Hitchcock
The Royal College of Music is proud of its strong commitment to the provision of scholarships and more than 50% of students currently benefit from some form of financial help. Many scholarships are supported by generous individuals, such as Terry Hitchcock, whose scholarship supports the studies of pianist Martin James Bartlett. Martin shot to fame after winning BBC Young Musician 2014, the third RCM Junior Department student to win the title in as many competitions. 12
In addition to his studies at the RCM and a number of concert appearances, he was involved in the BBC’s Children in Need recording of God Only Knows, performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue at the BBC Proms in August and was included in the Evening Standard’s list of London’s most influential people in classical music. Upbeat talks to Martin and Terry to discover more about the relationship between scholar and supporter…
Martin, what inspired you to take up the piano? Martin James Bartlett: I wouldn’t say I was inspired to take up the piano, but my mum thought it would be a very good idea. She knew it would be wonderful for my academic and emotional development to study music. From then on everything went very well and I auditioned here when I was seven years old for the Junior Department.
The Junior Department is every Saturday, during term-time, it’s quite a big commitment. What kept you motivated? MJB: Well my mum used to wake me up and say ‘Get in the car, we’re going to the College!’ But it was something I really loved doing because it’s such a wonderful place to learn, make new friends and to be totally immersed with people who are passionate about music. To come from a primary school with little music and then have every Saturday full of music, it’s incredible!
Did your family support you through those years? MJB: Very much so, yes. They’ve always been so supportive and even now they come to as many concerts as they can and help out in any way possible.
You’ve got quite a lot of concert engagements coming up, haven’t you? MJB: Yes! I have about 45 or 50 planned in the next year and a half. It’s very exciting but also quite daunting too because I have to balance my college work, recital work and concertos, but I have enjoyed every opportunity.
You performed at the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall this year, what was that like? MJB: It was wonderful, especially because the atmosphere at the Proms is unlike any other music festival. You have all the quirky traits and traditions of the Proms, such as people shouting out ‘heave ho’ when they lift up the piano lid. It was just wonderful to work with the Royal Philharmonic and Eric Whitacre who was so very considerate. With Eric it was something that was totally fresh.
Many previous winners of BBC Young Musician have gone straight into professional careers without going to a conservatoire. Why did you decide to study at the Royal College of Music? MJB: I wanted to have the balance of having a degree from one of the best institutions in the world and also a performing career. I was inspired by the people who went straight on to a performing career but I wanted to experience the benefits of both. And also, I’d been here for ten years already, I couldn’t exactly leave because it was home really.
Terry, do you follow Martin’s career quite closely as his supporter? Terry Hitchcock: Yes, I think I do, but on the other hand I think you’ve got to be careful about being intrusive. Martin’s great and when I see him we have a nice chat. Over the years to come I shall be thrilled to go and see Martin, hopefully, if I live long enough, for decades to come, and think I had some kind of involvement.
How did you come to be involved with the Royal College of Music supporting a scholarship? TH: I have an interest in the piano, so I thought that would be a good retirement hobby. I took it fairly seriously in the sense that I went back to the exam I’d failed when I was 12, Grade 4, and
passed it when I was 56. That led on to my visiting all the London conservatoires and going to piano masterclasses. I’ve gone to a number and I found the Royal College of Music the best for me of the London conservatoires because I think it combines very well down-to-earth friendliness and it’s a very vibrant place but on the other hand you’ve also got all the history and the talent. At that time, there was a Piano Circle so I thought that was fun and decided I would get involved. My particular interest has been charities in east London and Essex [as] I was born in Stratford, so I said [to the RCM] if by any chance you have anybody who’s a student from east London or Essex you could contact me. MJB: Thank goodness I was from Essex! TH: Now obviously it was an extraordinary bonus that it turned out to be Martin because not everybody has the opportunity to sponsor the BBC Young Musician of the Year. I thought that was an added privilege.
And what does this scholarship mean to you, Martin? MJB: Well, first of all, it means I can study here, which is totally invaluable because I know that, with the financial means of my family, it wouldn’t be possible. It means that I get to experience this wonderful place and also be able to focus on my concerts.
Terry mentioned piano masterclasses, is that one of the reasons you like the RCM? MJB: They have a wonderful, diverse set of masterclasses. It is so beneficial to attend string masterclasses and singing masterclasses [etc], especially for pianists as you can learn so much from other instrumentalists. Anyone can sign up and are given the equal opportunity to be able to have a masterclass with a world-class musician, which is one of the reasons why I really wanted to come here. The friendly atmosphere is also equally important.
You study with Head of Keyboard Professor Vanessa Latarche, what impact does being able to work with her have on you? MJB: She’s an inspiration to me. She has so many wonderful students and we finish a lesson and she has over 20 emails from different departments and I quite honestly don’t know how she does it.
She works incredibly hard and her knowledge and work ethics never falter. TH: One thing I would like to say on that front is something that I find very good about this college, is how friendly the professors are. When I go to various events, Vanessa and [Deputy Head of Keyboard] Ian Jones and Stephen Johns the Artistic Director are all very outgoing and pleasant and they’re also interested in anything I have to say. MJB: I think what’s important as well is that everybody here is very approachable. Classical music has the tendency to be snobby and I’ve experienced that many times. If you want to inspire a younger generation you first have to get rid of that barrier and this place does that incredibly well. TH: I couldn’t agree more.
For more information on supporting a scholarship at the Royal College of Music, see www.rcm.ac.uk/support or contact Fiona Rose, Development Manager (Scholarships & Academic Awards) on 020 7591 4320 or fiona.rose@rcm.ac.uk.
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Meeting the Director My husband Julian, a lovely Englishman who I met in Toronto when he was studying medicine, began a consultancy residency at Queen’s University in Canada at a time when Queen’s was just beginning its most ambitious fundraising campaign ever. I joined as a development professional in the Arts and Humanities Faculty. This was a role where I really ‘cut my teeth’ in major campaigns, fundraising board management and alumni engagement. During the campaign I also completed an MBA, focusing on philanthropy.
Lily Harriss We are delighted to welcome Lily Harriss to the Royal College of Music as Director of Development. In this role, she will lead the Development team to support RCM Friends, Patrons, alumni and supporters’ schemes, as well as being heavily involved in the More Music project to reimagine the RCM. Can you tell us more about yourself and how you became involved in fundraising? I graduated from the University of Toronto and imagined a career in politics, film or journalism, but then I was given an opportunity in volunteer management for the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival. It was shortly afterwards that I was offered an award to enter a cultural management programme, which focused on fundraising and marketing for the arts. This was established at a time when the arts in Canada were facing budget cuts and I knew then that I had found my calling. It was also through this programme that my passion for music soared during a six-month placement with the Edmonton Symphony in an external relations and fundraising role. 14
Julian and I moved to the UK in 2008 and I was appointed Director of Development and Communications for Dulwich Picture Gallery, working on their ambitious campaign. After seven successful years, I took on two senior fundraising roles, firstly at King’s College London, then as Director of Development (Interim) for English Heritage. I am also a Trustee of the Maple Leaf Trust, a volunteer fundraising organisation that raises money for Canadians living in the UK, and an advisor to LIFT (the London International Festival of Theatre).
Have you always been passionate about music and the arts? Yes, and about higher education, so this role at the Royal College of Music perfectly combines all of these interests. Everyone I know who has come into contact with the RCM has been greatly enriched by the experience. It operates at the highest standard of excellence and I definitely feel part of something special. I have been warmly welcomed by the staff, volunteers and students. I also hope to rekindle my love for playing the flute and the piccolo.
What are you most looking forward to about working at the Royal College of Music? I feel very privileged to be working for an institution that was established through inspired and ambitious philanthropy. The Royal College of Music is not preoccupied by its glorious past, but rather it looks boldly to the future. I am looking forward to working with the excellent leadership, the committed and enthusiastic staff and volunteers, our vibrant alumni community and our many generous supporters who are passionate about fulfilling the dreams of the RCM.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? What spare time? As a working mother, I strive to keep a healthy work-life balance, but my life outside of work is dedicated to family life, and that includes two sons – they are 11 and 3 – who are burgeoning music lovers. This means you will be seeing a lot of me and my family around – please do stop and say hello.
Who would your three fantasy dinner guests be? This is a very tricky question because it depends on the type of dinner party you wish to have, but if I had to choose I’d say Charlie Chaplin, Alexander Graham Bell and Judith Weir. Each would bring a uniquely inspirational gift to the table, and I have admired all of them.
What is your favourite piece of classical music? I’ll have to pick my ‘current’ favourite piece of music as it changes quite frequently. Since starting this role, I listen to Venus from Holst’s The Planets every night on my way home – it takes me to the most tranquil place and at the same time energises me before I become mum!
Welcome to new Friends and Supporters We are delighted to welcome the following people who have recently made their first donation to the RCM Elizabeth P Angel-Bureau Elizabeth Ashford Christy Austin Lysander Baker Alice Barber Philip Boswell Nicholas and Jaqueline Branson Joanna Brod Adrian Bushen Rupert Chalk Vanessa Crichton Marcel Dietsch Michael Ewing John Gray Philip Harrisson Joanne Hodson Ann Hunter Michael Hutchinson Anne Lovely Sue Neale David Norris Jane Pearson John Randall Tim Rounding Dominic C Shaw
Supporting the future of music... Music has the power to transform lives. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, generations of gifted students from around the world have been guided and inspired at the RCM. We would like to thank in particular those who have made donations of £1,000 or more in the last 12 months. Gifts are listed in descending order. Supporters of named scholarships, bursaries and Junior Fellowships The Estate of Basil Coleman The Estate of Christopher Hogwood Soirée d’Or Scholarships The Frederick and Phyllis Treby Scholarship ABRSM The Estate of Albert and Eugenie Frost Estate of Gweneth Urquhart Leverhulme Trust Future of Russia Foundation Philip Loubser Foundation Sir John Stratton Music Scholarship The John and Marjorie Coultate Scholarship Clifton Parker Award The Big Give Trust Laurie Barry and the John Barry Scholarship for Film Composition The Wolfson Foundation H R Taylor Trust H F Music Awards Emma Rose Memorial Scholarships The Richard Carne Charitable Trust Bocconoc Scholarship Thomas Redford Legacy John Lewis Partnership Scholarships+ Charles Napper Award Lydia Napper Award Hester Laverne Award The Tsukanov Family Foundation Rosemary and Richard Millar The Worshipful Company of Musicians The Polonsky Foundation Gylla Godwin Award Opperby Stokowski Collection Trust The Lee Abbey Award Stephen Catto Memorial Scholarship The Worshipful Company of Drapers The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust Sir Gordon Palmer Scholarship Ian Stoutzker CBE FRCM Ian and Meriel Tegner Linda Beeley H M D Meyer Violin Prize Emma Rose Scholarship Williams Rose Scholarship The Charles Stewart Richardson Scholarship for Composition Virginia and Simon Robertson Scholarship The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation UK The Boltini Trust Scholarship Gilbert and Eileen Edgar Junior Fellowship Phoebe Benham Junior Fellowship The Mills Williams Foundation The Derek Butler Trust The Charles Peel Charitable Trust The Ackroyd Trust The Wall Trust Midori Nishiura Scholarship The Tait Trust Scholarship The Richard Toeman / Weinberger Opera Scholarship Carole and Geoffrey Lindey Humphrey Searle Scholarship The Estate of Miss Iris Chappell Amaryllis Fleming Scholarship The Wyseliot Charitable Trust The Stanley Picker Scholarship Professor Lord Winston Lark Insurance Scholarship The Johnson Scholarship Sir Roger and Lady Carr Soirée d’Or Scholarship Fiona and Douglas Flint Soirée d’Or Scholarship Steinway & Sons Mason Scholarship
The Gary & Eleanor Brass Scholarship Betty Brenner Scholarship The JMC Award The Howard and Abbey Milstein Foundation The Greenbank Scholarship Independent Opera Artist Scholarship South Square Trust The Radcliffe Trust The Cuthbert Smith Award Edgar Tom and Hilda May Cook The Rothschild Foundation Ann Driver Trust Frank Shipway Memorial Scholarship Douglas and Kyra Downie Knights of the Round Table The Abinger Hammer Award Mark Loveday Scholarship Music Talks Scholarship Royal College of Music Pete Handley Award Arthur Wilson Trombone Award Else and Leonard Cross Charitable Trust Sudborough Foundation / Yehudi Menuhin Award Bell Percussion Kirby Laing Foundation The Bliss Trust Peter Granger Mr James McAlinden Legacy Andy Woodburn Memorial Award Norman Reintamm Charles Jacobs Scholarship Supporters of RCM Sparks J Paul Getty Jr Charitable Trust Royal Albert Hall Universal Music The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust The Oldhurst Trust The Hedley Foundation Sykes & Son Members of the RCM Chairman’s Circle Philip Carne MBE, HonRCM and Christine Carne* Michael and Ruth West HonRCM* Linda HonRCM and Tony Hill Denis and Meredith Coleman+ Jane Barker CBE* Dasha Shenkman OBE, HonRCM* Karina and Dhairya Choudhrie+* Guy Dawson and Sam Horscroft+ Lady Sitwell Roland Saam* Gisela Gledhill* Terry Hitchcock* James and Clare Kirkman* Dr Mark Levesley and Christina Hoseason* Sir Simon and Lady Robertson* John Nickson and Simon Rew* Sylvia and Clive Richards* Quentin Williams* Victoria Robey OBE* Alethea Siow and Jeremy Furniss* Members of the RCM Director’s Circle Daniel Chapchal Helen Chung-Halpern and Abel Halpern Mr James Lancaster and Mrs Margaret Lancaster Sir Peter and Lady Middleton FRCM Judy and Terence Mowschenson Vivien McLean Beckwith Tania Chislett Charles and Kaaren Hale The Vernon Ellis Foundation Richard and Sue Price Peter and Dimity Spiller Roland Saam Joanna Kaye+ Sir Sydney and Lady Lipworth Anne Wadsworth OBE+ Members of the RCM Patrons’ Circle John Ward Russell Race* Jane Wilson Mrs Piffa Schroder
Ellen Moloney Rhoddy Voremberg Dimity and Kerry Rubie David and Sue Lewis Sir Robert and Lady Wilson Mrs Isla Baring* Halina and John Bennett Lorna and Christopher Bown Mrs Lorraine Buckland Ms Sylvia Bettermann Nathenson Mr Peter and Mrs Tessa Ettedgui Mr Kenneth and Mrs Lillemor Gardener Sir Anthony Cleaver FRCM and Lady Cleaver Carol J Hagh Ms Greta Hemus John and Sue Heywood Mr David James Mr David Lewis Louisa Treger Barbara Simmonds Betty Sutherland Dr Yvonne Winkler Mr Victor and Mrs Lilian Hochhauser FRCM Sarah Griffin Mr William and Mrs AnnaMarie Hill Sir David Lees Sir Richard and Lady Sykes Mr David Mildon Charles and Dominique Lubar Mrs Marcella Rossi MarieNoelle and Mathias Gislev Corporate Supporters Campus Living Villages M&G Investments Niquesa Fine Jewellery and Hotels Huawei Technologies (UK) BAE Systems Finsbury Hatch Mansfield Other generous donors The Garfield Weston Foundation Mirfield Trust The Peter Sowerby Foundation Georg and Emily von Opel Foundation+ Geoffrey Richards HonRCM The Robert Fleming Hannay Memorial Charity Bob and Sarah Wigley The Henry Wood Trust The Hon Richard Lyttelton Heritage Lottery Fund The Rothschild Foundation St Marylebone Educational Foundation Sir Peter and Lady Walters Roland Rudd Miss Kathleen Beryl Sleigh Charitable Trust The Sharp Foundation Christopher Saul Natalie Livingstone The Leche Trust Fidelio Trust Professor Colin Lawson FRCM Ofenheim Charitable Trust Edward Mandel / Jaques Samuel Pianos Bursary The Derek Hill Foundation Friends of the National Libraries Sudhir Choudhrie Clore Duffield Foundation Richard Everard Paige Nelson Michael D Steen William Tilden * also support a named award + also support RCM Sparks For more information about supporting the RCM, visit www.rcm.ac.uk/supportus Alternatively, contact Fiona Rose on 020 7591 4321 or fiona.rose@rcm.ac.uk
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Student notes
Student notes
Keyboard Accomplishments Pianist Alexander Ullman has been awarded a Boise Foundation Scholarship… Salih Can Gevrek has received First Prize in the third Ahmed Adnan Saygun Piano Competition held in Turkey. The 23-year-old pianist received a 3,000TL (£7,000) prize and will perform at the 2016 International Gümüşlük Classical Music Festival… Pianist Martin James Bartlett has appeared on BBC 2’s Proms Extra ahead of his debut at the BBC Proms. He performed Rhapsody in Blue with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Eric Whitacre on 9 August at the Royal Albert Hall… Organist Laurence Long has won the Stephen Corry Award for a stand-out performance of any piece except Bach at the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition. He was also awarded Second Place in the Senior Category.
Vocal Accolades
String Successes Cellist Yoon-Kyung Cho has been announced as a Maisie Lewis Young Artists’ Fund winner. The award provides performance opportunities at Wigmore Hall and other prestigious London venues… Violinist Pierre Frapier has been awarded Third Prize at the 11th Aram Khachaturian International Violin Competition in Armenia… Cellist Jamal Aliyev has won the Croydon Concerto Competition with his performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto. As part of his prize, he will perform with the Croydon, Epsom and Guildford Symphony Orchestras… Violinist Jian Ren has been awarded a Boise Foundation Scholarship… Cellist Jo Dee Yeoh has been awarded Third Prize at the Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition… Harpist Catrin Meek has won the Nansi Richards Scholarship, which is awarded to a harpist from Wales to provide further training on the instrument.
Countertenor Tom Scott-Cowell and baritone Harry Thatcher have won Second and Third Prize respectively at the Somerset Song Prize competition… Baritone Huw Montague Rendall has performed in Garsington Opera’s production of Britten’s Death in Venice.
Elodie Chousmer-Howelles
RCMJD piano student Ziying Zhang and his brother Zizhou Zhang (RCMJD alumnus) have given a series of joint performances, including charity concerts in London and at St Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the Wold, as well as recitals in Beijing and Shanghai.
Jo Dee Yeoh
RCM Junior Department Achievements
Huw Montague Rendall
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Fifteen-year-old RCMJD student Conor Murphy gained 100% in his Grade 8 Theory exam, taken at the RCM on 20 June… Elodie Chousmer-Howelles has received the John Lill Trophy at Essex Young Musician of the Year 2015. Elodie’s prize includes the John Harrop Memorial Prize of £650 and a professional engagement with the Ongar Music Club, which organises the competition.
Ziying and Zizhou Zhang
Percussion Triumphs Percussionists Stephen Matthews and alumna Louise Goodwin have performed at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. They joined the Aurora Orchestra and Nicholas Collon for the premiere of alumna Anna Meredith’s Smatter Hauler on 2 August.
Spotlight on... The Arcos Quartet has undertaken a week-long residency after winning the fourth annual Boconnoc Award. Generously supported by the estate’s owners, Anthony and Elizabeth Fortescue, the residency took place at the Boconnoc Estate in Cornwall, in July. The Arcos Quartet – Laia Valentin Braun, Juliette Giovacchini, Ana Teresa Alves and David Lopez – performed quartets by Schubert and Mendelssohn in Boconnoc House, held an open rehearsal and concert in the beautiful Boconnoc Church and took part in an outreach project with disabled children.
Louise Goodwin
Composition Congratulations Composition for Screen composer Jack Hurst has collaborated with artist Victoria Shennan to create science-inspired soundscapes for the Invisible You installation at the Eden Project in Cornwall. Part of the Human Microbiome programme, their work was also featured on BBC Radio 4 in June.
Jack Hurst
Nicholas Moroz has been awarded the prestigious Vaughan Williams Scholarship for postgraduate composition study from the RVW Trust… Maeve McCarthy and Lillie Harris have been commissioned alongside other young, female composers to write pieces for crosscultural ensemble ShivaNova as part of the Women of the World Festival at Kings Place, on Saturday 24 October.
make contacts. They told Upbeat: ‘Receiving the Boconnoc Music Award was such an honour. It was a great opportunity to spend time together as a quartet, practising a lot and giving two concerts in wonderful venues on the Boconnoc Estate.’
The ensemble was also able to meet with audience members after the concerts to discuss their music and
Doctoral Activities Keith Bowen has presented a paper at the Galpin Society Conference 2015 on Musical Instruments in Science and History, held at the University of Cambridge in September… Randall Scotting has been accepted to present his paper The Other Senesino: Handel’s Singer in Context at the Handel Institute Conference which takes place at the Foundling Museum 21–22 November 2015… Junior Fellow Imma Setiadi has performed at Trinity School Arts Festival and Deal Festival in June… Composer Nick Morrish Rarity’s work for chamber ensemble, Abandonment & Ruin, has received its premiere at the Cheltenham Festival… Enrica Sciandrone has worked with the Psappha ensemble as part of her Curated Place Moving Classic composer residency. The project was presented at the Cycle Music and Art Festival in Kópavogur, Iceland, in August… Edwin Hillier’s final commission as part of his Handel House Composer’s Residence will be premiered at St George’s, Hanover Square, on 10 December. Edwin has also taken part in the LUCILIN Composition School in Luxembourg and the Dartington Advanced Composition Course, for which he was awarded a full scholarship... Ruaidhri Mannion’s piece for piano trio and live electronics (W)Edge has received its premiere at the Cully Classique Festival in Lavaux, Switzerland, in June, and his piece Hommage LMY will be performed at
Nick Morrish Rarity
Haifa University and Blumental Centre, Tel Aviv in April… Lisa Aufegger has won the award for best poster presentation at the Musicians’ Health and Performance Conference is Odense, Denmark… Sara Ascenso has given a lecture and workshops on wellbeing at the Crescendo Summer Institute of the Arts in Hungary… George Waddell has presented and chaired sessions at the CUK Research Students’ Forum in May. 17
Staff notes Kenneth Hesketh’s work for brass band The Alchymist’s Journal has been selected by the Kapitol Music Panel as a test piece for the 2015 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. His piano music, including his recent piano cycle Horae (pro Clara), has also been recorded by pianist Clare Hammond for 2016 release on BIS Records. Head of Postgraduate Programmes Dr Natasha Loges has been featured on BBC Radio 3 discussing new vocal releases with critic Hilary Finch. She has also been awarded £5,190 from the British Academy to support her contribution to an international conference on German Song, to be held at the RCM in February. The Classics Labels CC0069
Divertimenti Arias and Nocturnes
Soirée COLIN LAWSON MICHAEL HARRIS TIMOTHY LINES & friends
RCM Director Professor Colin Lawson, together with woodwind professors Michael Harris and Timothy Lines, has released a CD of Mozart music featuring the basset horn. A Mozart Soirée has been released on the Clarinet and Saxophone Classics label, founded by Victoria Soames Samek, and also features RCM alumni clarinettist James Maltby and singers Hannah Sandison, Rose Setten and Timothy Nelson, as well as woodwind professor Barnaby Robson. Artistic Director Stephen Johns has produced a new recording of Verdi’s Aida with Sir Antonio Pappano conducting the Orchestra and Chorus dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia. Stephen will conduct the RCM Chamber Choir in a performance of composition professor Joseph Horovitz’s choral work Endymion on 19 November. Endymion (text by Oscar Wilde) was commissioned for the centenary of the RCM and first performed in 1983, conducted by the then RCM Director Sir David Willcocks, who sadly died in September 2015.
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Maintenance Officer Thomas Fox at Tate Modern’s Turbine Festival
RCM Junior Department piano teacher Clara Rodriguez has been featured on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune. Clara performed a selection of Latin-American music during the programme. Research Fellow in Performance Practice Ingrid Pearson has performed at the International Clarinet Association’s annual congress in Madrid, in July. She performed as a member of the newly-formed ‘International Clarinet Co-operative’ along with Henri Bok (the Netherlands), Ros Dunlop (Australia) and Alex South (Scotland) in the premiere of works by Glasgow-based Australian composer Professor Graham Hair. Ingrid’s research with Professor Hair was also the subject of a presentation. Professor of harpsichord Terence Charlston has recorded a CD of 16thand 17th-century French keyboard music entitled Mersenne’s Clavichord on the Divine Art label. This is his second commercial CD recorded in the RCM Studios by Head of Studios Matt Parkin. A launch concert will be held in the RCM Museum of Music on Friday 11 December at 6.00pm (tickets are available from www.rcm.ac.uk/events).
Maintenance Officer Thomas Fox has presented one of his instruments made from recycled materials at Tate Modern’s Turbine Festival. The prototype instrument played a melody which could be manipulated by listeners using Twitter. Thomas was also invited to present his instruments and run workshops at Music Tech Fest in Slovenia and has run workshops on constructing instruments from scraps at Machines Room in Bethnal Green, where he was Artist in Residence in June. Guitar professor Gary Ryan has performed and coached students at the World Youth Guitar Festival in August. The festival, held every two years, provides rehearsals, workshops, masterclasses, coaching and concerts for young guitarists of all abilities. Organ professor Margaret Phillips has performed the complete organ works of J S Bach on the celebrated Richards, Fowkes & Co organ at St George’s, Hanover Square. Performing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 24 September and 31 October, Margaret completed the series with the Leipzig Chorales. Area Leader for Alexander Technique Peter Buckoke and tutor in Alexander Technique Judith Kleinman have taught at the International Meistersinger Akademie summer course in Neumarkt, Germany. During the August course, they taught Alexander Technique as well as daily singing coaching. Head of Historical Performance Professor Ashley Solomon has given a recital with violinist Rachel Podger and RCM Junior Fellow Nathaniel Mander. The recital at 49 Queen’s Gate Terrace marked Channel Classics’ 25th anniversary.
Photo © Gerard Collett
features leading ethnomusicologists offering a brief inventory of humanity’s most sophisticated musical achievements.
Sir Thomas Allen, Rowan Pierce and Nick Pritchard at Ryedale Festival
Vocal professor Christopher Glynn continues as Artistic Director of the Ryedale Festival, which this year featured vocal alumni Sir Thomas Allen and Nick Pritchard and RCM soprano Rowan Pierce in the world premiere of a new translation of Bach’s Coffee Cantata by John Warrack. Piano professor Julian Jacobson has performed with RCM alumna Victoria Royce, as part of the 2015 International Symposium on Performance Science in Kyoto, Japan. Run jointly by the Centre for Performance Science and Ryukoku University’s Faculty of Science and Technology, the symposium was held in September. Professor of Baroque violin Lucy Russell has recently released a disc of J S Bach harpsichord sonatas with harpsichordist John Butt (Linn records). The disc was chosen as CD of the week by BBC Radio 3 and received a five star rating in BBC Music Magazine.
Deputy Head of Keyboard Ian Jones has performed Chopin’s Concerto in E minor and Schumann’s Fantasie at Peter Jablonski’s Carlscrona Classic festival in Sweden. He also gave masterclasses at the World Piano Conference in Serbia, in Bulgaria and France and at Stockholm’s Royal College of Music. RCM Junior Department Assistant Hayley License will perform as part of the Forgotten Fairground Project at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho on Sunday 3 January. RCMJD alumni violinist Kimberley Wong and composer Christopher Gough are also involved in the project. Assistant Head of Undergraduate Programmes Anastasia Belina-Johnson has presented a talk about Silver-Age Operetta in Warsaw at the Ohio Light Opera symposium, in July. She has also co-edited, with Professor Derek Scott, The Business of Opera which was published in October. Deputy Librarian Peter Horton has given papers at the 10th Conference on Music in 19th-century Britain, held at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and at the Loder Family and Music in Provincial Britain Study Day, which was organised by Bath Spa University. Vocal professor Sally Burgess has run an intensive two-week course of workshops and masterclasses for twelve young singers. This autumn, she has also offered weekend courses designed to guide students in the professional preparation of arias and songs in different languages and one-day courses in Alexander Technique.
Ian Jones
has also taken part in a festival in Tallinn, Estonia, to celebrate Arvo Pärt’s music and 80th birthday. Professional skills teacher John Cooney has seen the premiere of his orchestral work In These Dark Waters in Cardiff by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Jac van Steen. His piece for flute and harp, Ellipse, also received its premiere, with flautist Lisa Nelsen and harpist Gwenllian Llyr performing at the National Museum in Cardiff. Professor of violin Madeleine Mitchell has given masterclasses in Beijing and a concert for the British Consul General in China. This autumn she also embarks on a major three-week tour of the USA. Movement coach Desiree Kongerod has been involved in breaking the Guinness World Record of ‘most people performing aerial silks’. As Director of An Act Above, an advanced aerial skills and dance company, Desiree organised the choreography of 30 synchronised aerial performers in June to achieve the record.
Vocal professor Justin Lavender has sung in the final concert of the 300th Anniversary Three Choirs Festival this summer. The concert involved a performance of Verdi’s Requiem in Hereford Cathedral with alumna Catherine Wyn-Rogers and the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Ivan Hewett has contributed a chapter to The Other Classical Musics, edited by Michael Church and published by Boydell & Brewer in October. The book
Vocal professor Patricia Rozario OBE has performed a seven-hour piece at the St Olav Festival in Trondheim, Norway. John Tavener’s Veil of the Temple was performed from 10.30pm to 6.00am to an audience of 700 in August. Patricia
Desiree Kongerod’s record-breaking choreography
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Alumni notes Several RCM alumni have performed in opera productions over the summer. Bass baritone Bradley Travis and mezzo soprano Rose Setten have performed in Garsington Opera’s productions of Britten’s Death in Venice in June and July. Catherine Wyn-Rogers, John Graham-Hall, Eliana Pretorian and Jerwood Young Artists Gyula Rab and Timothy Nelson have performed at Glyndebourne. Pianist Jianing Kong has been awarded the Bronze Medal at the XVIII Paloma O’Shea Santander International Piano Competition in Spain. Soprano Louise Alder has won the Young British Soloists’ Competition held at Wigmore Hall. Her prize includes the opportunity to record a fully funded and promoted album on Orchid Classics. Saxophonist Amy Green and RCMJD alumna Mathilde Milwidsky were also among the finalists.
Pianist Lucy Colquhoun has won the Accompanist’s Prize at the Somerset Song Prize competition. The biannual singing competition is promoted by the Taunton Festival of the Arts, Somerset Opera and the Ronald Tickner Educational Trust.
The three symphonies of Dr Malcolm Lipkin, recorded by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (The Pursuit and Sun) and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (Sinfonia di Roma) have been released by the Lyrita label on a CD entitled Malcolm Lipkin The Symphonies.
The Ruisi Quartet – Alessandro Ruisi, Max Ruisi, Guy Button and Asher Zaccardelli – has been awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Albert and Eugenie Frost Prize for young string players. The quartet will receive £5,000 for professional development.
Violinist Anna Blackmur has been appointed Second Violin Section Principal with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.
Guitarist Declan Zapala has released his debut album at the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room. Awakenings has been released on String Theory Records: UK.
Soprano Susanna MacRae and pianist Bridget MacRae (née Adams) have released their debut album. The mother and daughter team’s recording Britten Folk Songs is available digitally from iTunes or as a limited edition CD from Bandcamp.
Composer Oliver Rudland’s opera The Fisherman and his Soul received its staged premiere by the Winterreise Compagnie Théâtre in Rochefort-surMer, on 31 July. Oliver is also Composer in Residence with the London Choral Sinfonia, who will premiere a new work by the composer at St John’s Smith Square on 6 December.
Composer and saxophonist Charlotte Harding and saxophonist Amy Green have launched their project ‘Over 100 Years of Women and the Saxophone’ at the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg. The launch event featured the world premiere of Charlotte’s S axop H on E, written for Amy. Declan Zapala
Pianist Dinara Klinton has been announced as a Maisie Lewis Young Artists’ Fund winner. The award provides performance opportunities at Wigmore Hall and other prestigious London venues.
Oliver Rudland’s opera The Fisherman and his Soul
Pianist David Silkoff has performed a recital at the John Savage Centre in Ilford. His programme included a new transcription for solo piano of Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and Debussy’s Clair de lune. 20
Soprano Elizabeth Watts has been featured on Christian Baldini’s recording debut with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Mozart: Opera Arias with Overtures (Linn) features music from favourites such as Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro and was BBC Music Magazine’s Recording of the Month in July.
Composer Simon Coleman has written title music for six-part current affairs television series Real Stories With Ranvir Singh. He has also collaborated with Stephan Hodel on a track for Big Screen Music’s Revelations CD. The Castalian Quartet – violinists Sini Simonen and Daniel Roberts, violist Charlotte Bonneton and cellist Christopher Graves – has won First Prize at the 11th Lyon International Chamber Music Competition. They also won the Prix du Mozarteum de France for their performance of Mozart’s Adagio and Fugue K 546.
Composer Maurizio Malagnini has been nominated for an Emmy for ‘Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)’ for episode eight of the BBC/PBS costume drama The Paradise. Pianist Harry Nowakowski-Fox has been announced as a KNS Classical Grand Prize Winner at the Windsor International Piano Competition, receiving a professional recording with KNS Classical. Harry also won Third Prize in his category at the inaugural competition held in July. Vanessa Horn has published her first book, entitled Eclectic Moments. Short story publisher Alfie Dog Fiction recognised Vanessa’s talent after she was placed as runner up in their 2014 International Short Story Prize and invited Vanessa to submit more stories for publication.
composer Edwin Roxburgh, violin professor Madeleine Mitchell and composer Simon Dobson, who will take up a week’s residency in March 2016. Composer Stephen McNeff has been appointed Chairman of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. BASCA exists to support and protect the artistic, professional, commercial and copyright interests of songwriters, lyricists and composers and is home to the Ivor Novello Awards.
Françoise-Green Piano Duo
The Françoise-Green Piano Duo will be performing five concerts as part of their residency ‘The Viennese Salon’ at St John’s Smith Square. Antoine Françoise and Robin Green have commissioned new works from young British-based composers, including RCM alumni Vlad Maistorovici and Colin Alexander, and will also perform a new arrangement of Berg’s Lulu by RCM composition professor Kenneth Hesketh. Clarinettist Brenden Guy has launched the second series of ‘Curious Flights’, a concert series in San Francisco of which he is Founder and Artistic Director. The series is committed to promoting British music in America and has featured a number of RCM staff and alumni including percussionist Nicholas Reed,
Composer Luke Whitlock’s piano work Evening Prayer has received its Australian broadcast premiere on ABC Classic FM’s Classic Drive. His Flute Sonata, performed by Anna Stokes and Wai-Yin Lee, received its Canadian broadcast premiere on CKWR’s Women in Music. Composer Lewis Murphy has written music for And So Forth’s production Damsel/Wife/Witch, written and directed by Laura Attridge. The performance, which featured pianist Claire Harrison and RCM mezzo soprano Katie Coventry, was held at the Caroline Gardens Chapel during September. Pianist Dominic Anthony Ferris has performed at Stephen Sondheim’s 85th birthday gala on 25 October at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The celebration of the composer’s legacy as a creator of work for the stage was in aid of The Silver Line, a 24-hour helpline for older people and the Stephen Sondheim Society. Pianist Nicholas McCarthy has recently signed to Warner Classics and has released a new album entitled Solo. Works by Wittgenstein, Scriabin and Gershwin feature on the September release. He has also become the latest pianist to join the prestigious Yamaha ‘official’ artist roster. The Foyle-Štšura Duo – Michael Foyle and Maksim Štšura – has won First Prize in the Salieri-Zinetti International Chamber Music Competition. Their prize includes a concert tour of Italy and a debut recital in New York. Avril Anderson and David SuttonAnderson have curated an Anglo-Korean Music Series for the 2015 International Kingston Welcomes Korea Festival in August which celebrated the 70th anniversary of Korean Independence. Classical musicians from Seoul performed alongside Western and Korean instrumentalists resident in the UK, including RCMJD alumnus Yoonseok Shin.
Baritone Damian Thantrey and former RCM Junior Fellow Jonathan Gunthorpe have founded a new music festival in their home village of Hargrave in Northamptonshire. The inaugural festival, which was held in September, featured a solo recital by RCM violinist Joo Yeon Sir. The festival plans to continue this relationship in future years and will offer one recital per year to an RCM postgraduate. Former organ professor Richard Popplewell’s 80th birthday has been honoured by his pupils at a special tribute recital on Monday 19 October. The lunchtime concert was held at St Michael’s Cornhill in the City of London, where Richard was Director of Music from 1966 to 1979. A programme including music by Popplewell himself was performed by Jonathan Rennert, Peter Wright, Jane Watts, Paul Spicer, Robert Gower and Paul Derrett. Violinist Joo Yeon Sir has performed with Sir Karl Jenkins and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as winner of The Arts Club Karl Jenkins Classical Music Award 2014. She has also been invited to perform in the Young Artists’ Series at St John’s Smith Square in 2016. Composition for Screen alumna Gabrielle Amelia Ridgeon has cocreated and published a series of musical story books called Monty the Maestro and his Marvellous Magical Orchestra. The picture books, accompanying audio books and website (www.montymaestro. com) give children a fun insight into the world of the symphony orchestra. Pianist Alan Chu, Principal Keyboard of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, has given the Asia premiere of Antonio Fortunato’s Piano Concerto with the Hong Kong Wind Symphony under the baton of Fabio Pirola.
Alan Chu
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Obituaries and Marriages Clarinettist and former RCM professor John McCaw, known as Jack, died on 23 July 2015, at the age of 96. Born in New Zealand in 1918, Jack came to live in the UK and study at the RCM in 1948. He studied under Frederick Thurston and was awarded the ARCM in 1949. Becoming a professor in 1966, he taught at the College until 1981, with former students including Richard Hosford and Einar Jóhannesson. He went on to become Principal Clarinet of the Philharmonia Orchestra and, later, the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He was well known as a soloist and can be heard on innumerable recordings, including Elgar’s Cello Concerto with Jacqueline du Pré, Daniel Barenboim and the LPO (1967). In 1977 he played the Mozart Clarinet Concerto at the BBC Proms with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Riccardo Muti. He was awarded the FRCM in 1980. A memorial concert will be held in the RCM’s Britten Theatre on Wednesday 10 February.
Peter Katin
Pianist and former RCM professor Peter Katin has died aged 84, on 19 March 2015. Born in London on 14 November 1930, Peter left school at the age of 14 but was accepted to the Royal Academy of Music. One of the finest British pianists of the 1950s and 60s, he was well known at the BBC Proms, having performed there 25 times between 1952 and 1974. His first major appearance with an orchestra was at the Royal Albert Hall, playing Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra, which received a rave review from The Times. But it was his second performance at the Proms, performing Rachmaninov’s Third Concerto, which really made his career; reportedly, the 22
applause lasted for over five minutes and Peter said later that he ‘had reviews a person would kill for’. He taught the piano alongside his career as a performer and notable pupils included Gordon Fergus Thompson and Howard Shelley. Peter worked at the RCM as a muchloved and distinguished professor from 1992 to 2001. RCM alumna Ruth Black died on 7 May, aged 87. Born in Leicestershire, Ruth grew up in Oxford and studied at the Royal College of Music in the 1940s. She later worked in the television industry in London and became head of the music department for the ABC Television Corporation. It was here that she met her future husband, Arthur. They moved to New York in 1959, were married a year later and had three children during the 1960s. Together, Ruth and Arthur founded the Mohawk Trail Concert Series in Charlemont, Massachusetts, bringing renowned musicians to Charlemont for over 50 years. Ruth took over the position of Executive Artistic Director after Arthur died in 2000, and the series went on to win two National Awards for Adventurous Programming from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Mohawk Trail Concerts held a concert in Ruth’s memory in August.
Roger studied at the Royal College of Music between 1942 and 1947, with a break of three years to serve in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He married fellow student Madeleine Dring in 1947. After graduating, Roger played in the BBC Midland Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Prometheus Ensemble and Musica da Camera. He joined the London Symphony Orchestra in 1953 as Principal Oboe, retiring in 1986. His colleague at the LSO, Roger Birnstingl, said of Roger: ‘There is no question in my mind that a soloist of this calibre in such a key position lifted the entire orchestra to a new level of excellence.’ Following Madeleine’s death in 1977, Roger continued to promote her music, including several oboe works written for him, transcribed many pieces for oboe and piano and donated many of her original manuscripts to the RCM. He is survived by his son Jeremy and by his second wife, oboist Jenny Porcas.
Marriages RCM Junior Department accompanist Stephen Meakins married Felicity Orme (harp) in July 2015. Felicity and Stephen met while studying at the Royal College of Music and graduated in 2011.
RCM alumnus Roger Smalley died on 18 August 2015, at the age of 72. Born in 1943 in Swinton, near Manchester, Roger won a scholarship to study piano and composition at the Royal College of Music in 1961. He was successful as a composer and received a Royal Philharmonic Prize in 1966 for his orchestral work Gloria Tibi Trinitas. As a pianist, he was recognised for his performances of contemporary music and he was co-founder of Intermodulation, an ensemble which specialised in improvisation and live electronics. He was the first artist-inresidence at King’s College, Cambridge, and, in 1974, he held a three-month composer residency at the University of Western Australia. He later emigrated to Australia and enjoyed a significant academic career at the same university. He received several accolades in Australia, including the Australian government centenary medal in 2004 and was appointed Member of the Order of Australia in 2011. Oboist and RCM alumnus Roger Lord died on 19 June 2014, at the age of 90.
Felicity Orme and Stephen Meakins
Felicity Orme and Meakins with Aurora Orchestra RCM students andStephen alumni performing
Sophie Bevan
Jamie Parker, Claire Martin and Seth MacFarlane with John Wilson
Martin James Bartlett with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
John Willson conducting the John Wilson Orchestra
Alina Ibragimova
All images copyright Chris Christodoulou
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